1915
In May, at his own request, Richthofen is transferred to the Fliegertruppe (air service) as an observer.

1916
On September 17 Richthofen shoots down his first plane.

1917
In January, after shooting down his 18th plane, Richthofen is awarded the Orden Pour Le Mérite, Prussia’s highest military honor. It has the nickname “The Blue Max.”

1917
In June Richthofen is made commander of a new flight squadron.

1917
July 6: Richthofen is seriously wounded by a British aircraft during a dogfight. A head wound puts him out of service for 40 days.

1918
April 21: Richthofen’s plane is shot down over Vaux sur Somme, France. He dies at the age of 25.

1918
April 22: Richthofen is buried with full military honors in Bertangles, France (near Amiens). See Famous Graves: Richthofen for a photo of the first funeral ceremony.

The Red Baron’s fourth and final burial was here at Wiesbaden’s Südfriedhof (South Cemetery) in 1975, where he now rests among other Richthofen family members. His grave marker is in the lower center of this photo. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

1921
Richthofen is reburied in a more elaborate grave at the military cemetery in Fricourt, France.

1925
November 20: Richthofen’s body is transferred from France to Germany. In an elaborate state funeral attended by Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg the ace flier is interred in Berlin’s Invalidenfriedhof (Invaliden Cemetery).

1975
At the request of the family, Manfred von Richthofen is moved to the Südfriedhof in Wiesbaden, where he now rests in peace beside his sister Ilse, brother Bolko, and other family members. See the photo above.